The Welsh Assembly Government is calling for new ideas to include in the draft housing bill for Wales, and a consultation on the legislation closes on Friday. Representatives from across the sector have responded to the government, sharing their own thoughts on how Welsh housing should be managed and funded. Here we share the views of four housing experts on the future for Wales.

John Puzey, director, Shelter Cymru

"First and foremost we want to see legislation that is truly citizen-centred. Putting the interests and experiences of the citizen at the heart of housing policy and focusing on what help is needed rather than what duty is owed will, we believe, lead to more effective service delivery, better outcomes for people in housing need and, in turn, to efficiency gains for service providers.

"Many pressures on housing come from outside the housing system itself. In the consultation on meeting the housing challenge, the minister acknowledges that as many housing problems cut across government departments and policy areas, so too should the solutions. We want the housing bill to make it clear how these links will be created and sustained. Too often there is a gap between strategy and reality that results in lack of real change at grassroots level.

"Finally, we would like to see clear steps to tackle the issues of affordability and supply in recognition of the limitations of the market's ability to meet people's housing needs, as well as meaningful action to address affordability and improve security of tenure within the private rented sector."

Keith Edwards, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru

Since devolution we've flexed our legislative muscles sparingly, using secondary powers or tagging welsh provisions on the back of UK bills. I welcome the forthcoming housing bill as it will allow us to be much more ambitious.

"It won't be the panacea for all housing ills. We may already have sufficient powers in some areas and it's the lack of a corporate commitment and resources that's the problem. It is also true that you can't simply legislate social problems away; if we could we'd have made homelessness illegal years ago.

"But a new housing act could be a very important tool in the box of interventions. The minister's big idea is system stewardship. CIH Cymru has championed this 'whole system' approach because no one sector can deliver on its own and each is interlinked.

Any new powers should help address specific imbalances in our system including: new homelessness provisions based on the current impact assessment; reforming tenure in order to deliver a more flexibility and efficiency; and, new powers to intervene in the private rented sector to improve quality. Any measures should be fully scrutinised and based on clear evidence.

"We should engage in a mature and honest debate at this historic time for housing."

Joy Kent, director, Cymorth Cymru

"Sometimes proposals for legislative change succeed or fail for the wrong reasons. We can all think of kneejerk legislation that appears to have been implemented in response to media stories rather than need. Less obvious are the examples of proposals which are thoroughly researched, evidenced and needed never making it onto the statute book.

"The housing bill offers Welsh policy makers and more importantly, all people living in rented accommodation, the opportunity to benefit from this latter situation. The Law Commission's review of tenure law, the process of which began almost a decade ago, has never been implemented by the UK government despite thorough consultation and sensible suggestions.

"By adopting the Commission's proposals in the housing bill, Wales could have tenure law fit for purpose and within this, a type of tenure designed specifically to meet the needs of people with challenging behaviour living in supported accommodation. This might not be as sexy as some other legislation that has made it through the UK's legislative process – but it could bring a significant part of housing law into the 21st century.

"It would also represent much needed good news for the increasing number of vulnerable people homelessness and supported housing organisations are working with."

Aaron Hill, policy officer, Community Housing Cymru

"Wales has some of the poorest housing conditions in the UK, and the quality of private rented sector homes must be improved. Action from the Welsh Government – through the Welsh Housing Quality Standard – has seen major improvements in the quality of Wales' social housing stock, but with increasing pressure on the private rented sector, this form of tenure must be made more attractive, more affordable and more accessible.

"Like the rest of the UK, Wales is facing a crisis in the supply of affordable housing, and with 90,000 people on a social housing list the solution cannot be found through legislation alone. Action is required on empty homes, and on the release of public land for affordable housing schemes, and we will continue to call for the cuts in social housing grant to be plugged by the consequential funding coming to Cardiff Bay after the UK government's autumn statement.

"We will also call upon the Welsh Government to utilise the links that already exist between housing, health and regeneration – with specific calls for statutory links between health and housing in Wales."

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